Gerard's Bar
Fortitude Valley
Gerard’s Bar is James St’s go-to for understated sophistication, with an al fresco deck under the Poinciana tree and workhouse chic interior.
The sibling of Gerard’s Bistro can be found out back across the cobbled drive and is a must visit if in the vicinity. By night the signage is a clever and stunning lighting arrangement involving illuminated nails in a concrete post and this pretty much sets the scene for everything else.
Bar food is simple but sublime: a Middle Eastern flavoured menu that centres around the around the kitchen’s custom built wood-fired grill, where pita, flat brads and manouche are baked to order.
On offer are a selection of delectable mezze, seasonal vegetable dishes and snacks such as Grilled Richard’s peppers, green ajika, cashew tarator; White bean hummus and Mt Zero olive oil, Zucchini manoushe, goats curd, fermented chilli or Tunisian lamb tagine with harissa yoghurt.
The drinks list is as unique and extensive as the food list, with curated wines from around the world: reds from Italy, Morocco, Lebanon, WA & SA and whites from the Granite Belt, SA, WA, Vic, Tas, Spain and Austria. In addition there’s a small selection or rose and orange wines and dessert wines.
Sparkling wines and champagnes come by the glass or bottle, or at the top of the range, bottles of vintage Dom Perignon or Louis Roederer.
Beers are an eclectic boutique mix from Lebanon, USA, Italy, Japan and Australia and otherwise there are ciders, sherry, madeira and port to choose from.
Drinks from the Mediterranean figure heavily with Apperitifs and Digestifs that include Aperol, Campari, Pernod, Grand Marnier or Sweet or Dry Vermouth.
But that’s not all – Gerard’s Bar also has a cocktail list worth checking out, from the classics like Negroni and Martini to the Shares like Sangria and the special House Cocktails like the refreshing Arakan – a blend of Arak, strawberry, mint and soda or the highly recommended Gin Wu Tonic – Beefeater’s Gin, malic-based tonic made in-house, fresh slices of apple and burnt rosemary.
Check out our full list of Fortitude Valley bars HERE
